Projects per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is increasing knowledge of antimicrobial usage in children yet limited availability of nationally representative paediatric-specific data on antimicrobial resistance. OBJECTIVES: Paediatric data from this national surveillance programme are presented to explore differences between childhood and adult bloodstream infections and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. METHODS: Using information collected from a prospective coordinated antimicrobial resistance surveillance programme, children ≤18 years and adults >18 years with a positive blood culture for Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp. or Gram-negative spp. presenting to one of 34 Australian hospitals during 2013-16 were evaluated. Consistent methodologies for key sepsis pathogens were employed and a comparative analysis between children and adults was conducted. RESULTS: There are stark contrasts between children and adults in this national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data set. Notable differences include lower rates of AMR, different clinical and molecular phenotypes and lower mortality amongst children. The burden of Gram-negative resistance is disproportionately experienced in children, with higher odds of death with an ESBL versus non-ESBL bacteraemia in comparison with adults. CONCLUSIONS: These data support that children are not just 'little adults' in the AMR era, and analyses by age group are important to detect differences in antibiotic susceptibility, clinical phenotype and genetic virulence factors. Antimicrobial surveillance incorporated into routine laboratory practice is vital to inform an array of wider applications including antimicrobial guidelines, stewardship and direction for prioritization of novel antimicrobial development.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1639-1644 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy |
Volume | 75 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2020 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Progress towards a coordinated, national paediatric antimicrobial resistance surveillance programme: Staphylococcus aureus, enterococcal and Gram-negative bacteraemia in Australia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Evaluation and optimisation of paediatric vaccination programs in Australia and the region
Blyth, C. (Investigator 01)
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
1/01/16 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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Evidence-driven strategies to reduce the burden of infections among Indigenous children
Bowen, A. (Investigator 01)
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
1/01/15 → 31/03/20
Project: Research